And suddenly they’re off! Plants in the garden seem to have sprung into life overnight and everything is bursting with energy. Before you know it you will be trying to do this – get the support in safely through lush growth. As we all know, it just doesn’t work, so if you have a little time this long weekend give your plants a helping hand.
If you get the right support in place now your plants will be able to grow through them making them all but invisible in the coming weeks. Of course, some supports are meant to be seen
but here are a few options both discrete and flamboyant.
The simple ‘grow through’ ring is probably one of the most cost effective and useful supports on the market. You can set them quite low to the ground at first and gently raise it as your plant grows. I find them excellent for many herbaceous perennials.
They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and configurations, but they all do the same basic job.
Some garden stars require their own special supporting cast – peonies, for instance, with their heavy sumptuous heads, have led to the development of a sturdy frame like the one above.
This little garden helper came to my aid when my nepeta was being sat on and crushed by cats. Put the bowl shaped support over the plant and it becomes totally inconspicuous – mine is already hidden with growth as a write. The cats, however, get a bit of a surprise when they think they will roll all over their favourite nip.
Climbers are also well on their way at this time of year
good old trellis is a very reliable friend
but there are other ways of dealing with certain climbers. The support above helps things to get off to a good start but then go it alone.
Bamboo canes are brilliant support for all sorts of blooms and vegetables but if you are a serious tomato grower you may like one of these
a tomato ladder. There’s still time to order them in for the season.
Then, there’s the trusty obelisk!
This comes in a range of materials and designs. These willow ones are perfect for a rustic or medieval look.
Wooden ones are lovely – I prefer them painted personally.
And then there’s a plethora of metal ones to choose from
some of which are quirky versions of the classic shape.
There are so many ways to stop your garden being a flop, swirls, curls, triangles and squares, discs, spheres, sticks and poles – you choose.
But if you don’t get round to doing anything much and your plants are falling all over the place at the height of summer, it’s not the end of the world, tuck one of these under them – it works every time!
